Over the past 20 years numerous authors have pointed out the vital link between biological and cultural diversity, argued that the fast erosión of the earth's evolved endowment of biological species and of indigenous cultures are overlapping processes,and advocated the need for integrated conservation programs whose aim is to achieve simultaneously the preservation of distinct natural life-forms as well as unique human lifestyles, the so-called biocultural model of conservation. Ethnobiological research and researchers have been at the forefront of this nascent paradigm shift. Key contributions include: documenting the human utility of a rich variety of little-known biological species, demonstrating that indigenous peoples possess very detailed and scientifically accurate knowledge and are skillful manipulators of their local environments, explaining the importance of indigenous knowledge and resource management practices for biological conservation, and assuming the role of advocate/broker/intermediary between indigenous and world communities, in defense of the former's cultural, economic, and territorial rights.